Manulele Ah You's 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown sparked No. 1 Kahuku in a 27-20 win over No. 3 Punahou. Ah You also had six receptions for 70 yards. Paul Honda/Star-Advertiser (Sept. 3, 2022)
In my gut, this felt like a 9-3 kind of game.
Two great defenses. Two teams with power and speed on the ground. Why not 9-3? But the second half of Kahuku and Punahou was an entirely different tone. Kahuku trailed 20-13 before rallying for a 27-20 win in one of the most exhilarating matchups ever between the two programs.
Punahou nearly came, saw and conquered on Kahuku’s home turf. Reserve quarterback Ty McCutcheon was able to connect with speedy Astin Hange and their fleet of receivers.
Neither team was able to pound out consistency on the ground until Kahuku used a power-I formation to take control in the second half. Running backs Clyde Taulapapa and Va‘ae Fonoti mustered what they could until then.
good wakeup call before playing Campbell, another good game coming up. Kahuku will prevail again!
I was wondering what was going on with Kahuku, it was apparent that two defensive and two offensive starters were not playing. That was the difference between a blow out and the close game we witnessed. Several kids stepped up big time..Manulele, Hallums, Soliai, Toilolo, Auelua.
Aside from Kaikai (who is injured) as the best receiver Kahuku has, #10 and #5 have some really good hands and can catch anything coming their way..too bad they are defensive starters and can only do spot duty on offense.
Also sad to say they dont stand a chance against STJB and STFrances….should just focus on the playoffs as it wont be easy this year with so many injuries.
Who was that backup QB that came in late between the 4th Quarter for Punahou? He looks extremely good and almost won their game…. I think he should be starting if they really want to win here. I feel like Punahou has a legit shot this year and with their defense. Punahou looked better than St. Louis but we will see in the ILH Championship. Good job Kahuku.
Kahuku – Lets be honest with kaikai out #11 every team believes they have a chance and they definitely do!! Huge loss and its starting to show against the better teams.
Punahou – balled out!!! Biggest surprise was the big boys up front on both sides of the ball. Held kahuku in check for most of the game and that aint easy. Will definitely be favored going into states from what I’ve seen in the ILH.
Ate some humble pie over the weekend haha.. RRFL
BigD,
Let’s be honest, check previous posts, Kahuku fans did nothing but moan and groan about #11 getting too many touches LOL. Welp, they barely got by the Puns without him. Never heard anybody complaining about Atuaia getting 40 touches a game. Hmmmm. Wonder why.
How much 4th down conversions ?
Punahou had how much turn overs ?
Back up qb second half made noise ?
Kahuku was taking an ILH team cheap going for it multiple times in their own territory, and luck was on their side .
Kahuku head coach mr smiles , wasn’t smiling at all this game but had his tail between his legs worried lol. Next time they play Punahou , better think twice before going for it in your own territory , next game , they won’t be that lucky .
is Kaikai out for the season?
Game could have gone either way.
#11 definitely a good player, but Punahou also had a key player out.
They’ll probably meet again.
@Yapa
I agree, not to mention , if that QB for Punahou played the full game it wouldve been a whole different game . Lots of people from the east side would be taking the week off to recover from depression and reality lol. #11 aint a whole team, with or without him game wouldve been the same .
Also with Punahou having how much, 5 or 6 turnovers, and the game was still close of Punahou almost winning .
Kahuku head coach lucky he had athletes and luck to bail him out , he looked very very shooken up this game. Mr think he smooth lol .
Either way Basco and St Marys will embarrass hawaii by stomping on Kahuku . I cant even see how those games would be close .
BACK TO REALITY KAHUKU PEOPLE .
Oh please . Y’all is making like #11 is the baddest dude on the planet . Any time someone touches the ball 20 times a game , they are bound to have a busted play and create stats. Lets flip the tables , lets say #5 or # 10 for Kahuku had that many touches , dont you think they would have the same outcome or maybe better ? Thats my opinion.
@Yapa
Hopefully this game does humble Kahuku head coach, because lately , he been walking around with his chest out and with big smiles. The dude better recognize that the game this past week , the kids bailed his poor coaching out of the game . TRUE STORY
PUNAHOU Wins states this year .
Punahou and Kahuku will meet again probably for the Championship Punahou looks good this year better than years past I think this is there year all depends if they want it more. Kahuku already showed them there weakness in the game make sure it doesnt happen again!!!:)
Kahuku wins.
Reality Check, Hawaii got embarrassed by Gorman stomping on the local team in Hawaii. Gorman not even in the top ten. Could have been in the 70$. So long Kahuku run the table and State championship.
His father said possibly back for the Saint Frances (Md.) game on Sept. 30. It’s a long shot. If it isn’t healed properly, they will not play him. There’s also the chance he’s done for the year. Time will tell.
I am happy my red raiders got the dub. Thank you for Punahou for humbling us. In my opinion I still stand for Kaikai not getting a lot touches because in situations set like this past game. This game showed that Kaikai is a key contributor to Kahuku’s gameplan and without him they don’t have a leeway on who should get the ball. Yes Brock and Liona made a lot of great plays on the offensive side but lets not tired the kids out. We have a deep wr depth for a reason. I hope the wrs like Manuele, Manoa, Kache, and Gemini step up hard and show everybody that last game was just figuring out how to actually gameplan against a great defense. Hope Kahuku has a chip on there shoulder if they want to win it all because I bet Mil, Cam, Pun, & Stl all have one.
What a great game.
Both sides played hard and the defending champions found a way to win.
This was a good game for film on what is needed to fine tune these programs as they head into league play. Good luck to both teams and especially to the RR’s as they go and represent our State. Go get em boys!!
@Reality Check, Yeah I agree that Kahuku athletes bailed out the coaching. But I think if The qb played the whole game, Kahuku would’ve still win. I believe Kahuku only had a hard time second half because I doubt they game planned for McCutcheon. Cause when he played against Moanalua and Waianae on tv, it was already a blow out. I think they probably assumed they was only trying to keep Sagapolutele healthy and not actually give McCutcheon in game reps. So putting McCutcheon in probably surprised Kahuku a little bit of how good of a arm he is with accuracy and his elusiveness that Sagapolutele don’t really have. Similar to how Georgia’s defense didn’t gameplan for Tua and then Tua went on to throw the game winner in OT. I don’t think Kaikai would’ve made a difference as a ball carrier but I guarantee it would’ve had the defense on there heels to see if he was going to get a catch and run or run a streak and burn there corners. That would’ve make the Z receiver open or the Y runs a seam down the middle. So he still would’ve been a contributor without the ball.
@ good game
6 turnovers and punahou was 6 yards away from a tie/win
Lucky Kahuku never lose , lots of people from Sunset to Kahuluu wouldve been out from work dealing with depression .
Wouldve been like a funeral to all the fans who think KAHUKU IS UNTOUCHABLE lol.
Kahuku just looks like they are on another level but in reality they not . Football is just down this year in Hawaii . No competition .
Ive seen many many greater kahuku football teams than this one .
LOL…the hate for Kahuku is sooooo real!!!! Geezus. IF the “back-up” started Punahou wins. IF Puanhou didn’t turn the ball over so many time they would’ve won. IF, IF, IF. Guess what, IF Punahou scored more points than Kahuku they would’ve won.
Why do you folks want Kahuku to lose badly to SJB? Kahuku will be representing Hawai’i and the better they do, the more eyes everyone will continue to put on Hawai’i kids for the next level. Big Picture people. Stop being selfish that it’s not your neighborhood team in the spotlight.
@Junior K…fyi, Bishop Gorman is ranked #7 in the nation so StL losing that bad wasn’t a surprise after watching them struggle against Mililani.
#11 definitely an impact player. Would it made a difference? Maybe. However if kahuku threw more, it would’ve given punahou more chances to get a pick based on some of those balls the qb was throwing up. Punahou lost several critical chances to get a pick. However Kahuku still found a way to win.
Good luck to Kahuku, we all should be behind them as they will now rep the 808.
@ Every Kahuku Fan
Wow , now all the kahuku closet people comes out . Now talking about how terrible saint louis is and so forth.
Let me remind all you Kahuku people about something . Kahuku made a name nationally , does anybody know why ?
Well to all the st…d people out there who dont know , Saint Louis created that recognition for them . Because they beat Saint Louis . Kahuku was nowhere to be found on a national level until they beat saint louis. So all the bandwagon kahuku fans , you better thank saint louis for putting Kahuku on the MAP . REAL REAL talk here. Kahuku will always be in Saint Louis Shadows , cause they will never accomplish what the crusaders did.
PEACE OUT
Bra, when the only receivers that can catch are Kaikai and 2 defensive backs playing spot duty on offense, no cry about spreading the ball around.
Playing time AND Ball time is earned not given.
I got some inside scoops. Kai Kai foot/ankle injury. Its going to be a problem for him . Even if he returns , which is very unknown , his cutting and running ability wont be the same , and or one good hit or tackle , that foot/ankle will be re injured . So Kahuku going forward with kai kai for the rest of season , is unknown. Could be a season ending injury . So kahuku better start preparing for the rest of season without him . Offensively , they need to find a new identity.
Thats why when your up big in games , pull your star athletes instead of trying to feed him more. SAD
Sad, this kid was supposed to have an unreal senior season following his junior your MVP .
Does anyone else see old Campbell highlights being played on repeat on all these articles? Time to change it up, geeez!
@ARROGANT RR FANS
Yeah you right brother…. thank you St Louis for putting us on the map….. now you say thank you to Kahuku for Welch, ornalles all the Tufaga boys, the Wiley boys and every other player you guys took from other schools to win all those championships …..facts brother
of course , you think they like play for a favortism place that would only play polys? not to mention all they did was run the ball when welch and ornellas were recievers. Use your head buddy.
and you guys keep saying little kid sh…
St louis is a private school. They dont have a community , like any other private school in the nation.
CLOWN.
Now thank Kai kai for coming back from utah and all the other utah players and samoa players you guys make like you guys not recruiting.
Atleast 5 players from Kahuku on STL roster every year and 5 from Farrington, 5 from Cambell..etc
STL is a recruiting school, not a homegrown or born-n-raised school. Look what happen when they play other private recruiting schools like Gorman last week, they got blown.
@Arrogant rr fans, I am pretty sure Kahuku is known nationally because they are one of the few highschools in the nation to send the most players to the nfl. Which why they had Sports Illustrated, HBO, Espn, and many other media outlets making/made projects about Kahuku. I don’t recall any big media outlets talking about Stl since Marcus Mariota won the heisman. But give all your money and appreciation to qb whisperer Coach Vinny for mentoring stl great qbs. Without him Saint Louis wouldn’t even be what they are now. Since he left, the whole program went down. Why you think all Kekahuna and Muaau left. They don’t want to play for a depleting program. I heard there was drama with the lee bros and booster clubs about funding. The only reason Stl is relevant because every one in hawaii think they still have a dynasty. Maybe in a couple years they’re gonna recruit all those gems and be a dynasty again.
Perhaps just appreciate the talent that 808 has too offer, no matter what color the jersey. With the advent of all these high school combines, QB camps, etc, the kids now days have good exposure. Keep academics at the forefront. Athletics is the vehicle to get the education. Good luck to all and stay healthy.
Kahuku people thinks that they supposed belong in the state championship every year . If they dont , here comes the excuses , ah they recruit , we home grown , blah blah blah . But when they winning , they become arrogant like they untouchable . Im from the west and i see all these comments from kahuku people about st louis being depleted and how they recruit blah blah . Kahuku people needs to be humble and just shut their mouth and play the game. Yah this is a down year for the crusaders , so let it be , but i guess the standards are so high right .
Any ways , waianae hasnt been winning , you see me crying about homegrown waianae kids going to st louis ? no . Lets be real kahuku people , st louis dominated for years and thats y the hate is on .
Be humble be humble kahuku , your not untouchable , punahou punched you in the mouth.
St lulu is gonna be named after the new strain of weed, cause they gonna continue to get rolled up and smoked for the next decade. Once the Lee brothers leave again, we will see Punahou dominate the ilh(starting now), and it’ll be a repeat of the last time they left. DROUGHT mountain.
Westside kanaka you better check yourself cause Every year we hear the same excuses out west. Talking about the disappoint of todays program (coaches, players, support, community) and always comparing them to the glory days of waianae football.. And you dont represent the entire waianae fan base so please stop talking like nobody’s complaing about the downfall of waianae’s football program.
Personally, Waianae football is Hawaii prep football at its finest!! Without waianae there is no kahuku, without kahuku there is no St louis!
Back to the Topic: kahuku got punched in the mouth but until someone beats them they remain the top dog for now!!